Linker, Donor, Oscar, Bye
Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 5:50PM By now you've heard the rumor, which some sources say is closer to actual fact, that Eddie Murphy will be hosting next February's Oscar ceremony. That's a major get if true since Murphy hasn't performed live in years and years and is the kind of Household Name that Oscar always prefers. I'm sure we'll talk more about this if it pans out.
Lorell and Jimmy are through-oooooooooh
No matter how great Eddie is -- should he host -- I know I won't be fully satisfied because what are the chances he'd invite Anika Noni Rose (who you know we love) onstage for something. TRUE STORY: Every single time I hear "Eddie Murphy" since 2008 I hear Anika Noni Rose's glorious voice in my ear. I included the sound clip that plays in my head every time in the post. You better listen!
MEANWHILE...
Have you seen Paul Smith's limited edition beautiful posters for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy? They're minimalism and its most gorgeous and they're charitable too. All proceeds go to cancer.
This is my favorite from the batch.
I keep staring at it. But then I love minimalistic art. I think I must need room for my own projections of what an image, movie, or thing might be.
Ashley Judd & Michael Shannon & the aphidslinks!
Sunset Gun revisits Bug, mincing no words: "a masterpiece". I like this movie too but if you ever have a chance to see it on stage, that's where it really wows. So claustrophic and crazy and weirdly expectant of your co-dependency.
In Contention on George Clooney's tribute at Telluride. What a star that man is.
Awards Daily Sasha thinks Glenn Close has a real shot at the Best Actress Oscar with Albert Nobbs as career capper. She also likes The Descendants.
Super Punch stop motion recreation of the Johnny Quest opening credits. "WOW" and also: "What on earth for?"
Terry Richardson has been shooting Jared Leto again. Those two.
Movie|Line Stephanie Zacharek with a beautiful ode to Michael Fassbender in Shame and a funny jab at Al Pacino in Wilde Salome.
Today's Must Read
The Sheila Variations on Mia Wasikowska in Jane Eyre. Can we just cut and paste this whole write-up into her Best Actress FYC ads? Hopefully Focus Features takes a look at it.
Even if you haven't seen Jane Eyre (2011) it's an expansive essay taking on various schools (and limitations) of acting and it even has two beautiful shout outs to two of Nathaniel's all time favorite characterizations: Meryl Streep in Silkwood and Kathleen Turner in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? So I'm sensing that Sheila is a kindred spirit.
Oh and... uh... Happy Labor Day Weekend!
I tried to take a vacation from blogging this week -- as i hinted in the "best of august" post -- and have now realized that I am unable. Constitutionally unable. Which is why you should all sign on as "subscribers" (in sidebar -- i've added a cheaper option for the brokest among you) so that I can keep blogging from here to eternity. I'm not suited for other types of work because I spend too much time dreaming about the movies.
I'm not sure what I'll do next weekend when I will actually not have an internet connection and must stare at actual friends all day...and not through a computer screen? GROSS.
Diesel Sweeties designed the perfect t-shirt for people like me -- and maybe you -- who can't stop working.
HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY IF YOU'RE CELEBRATING!
Reader Comments (7)
I agree with the Gregory Ellwood (Hitfix) review of Albert Nobbs. He thinks Close will be a player in the Oscar mix with Nobbs but she will need strong SAG support and a strong campaign to get to the Kodak. His grade of Nobbs C+
so you've seen it Markus? What didn't you like about it?
Wow Thanks! I had such a great time reading The Sheila Variations.
I endorse almost every word!
I do love Anika and her voice, but that clip was one of the problems i had with Dreamgirls. You DO NOT have to sing pieces of dialogue that you can just normally say. Her singing that line makes not a bit of difference from her just delivering it as usual. I think i remember Jennifer Hudson/Effie was a repeat offender when it came to that.
and Eddie Murphy hosting the Oscars! i like the idea but i do see the potential for disaster. Maybe this can be his comeback? if Meryl's not nominated next year (somewhere an Oscar is laughing) why not give it to her? or Oscar's beloved Jack Nicolson?
Derreck -- we'll have to disagree on that one. I love sung through bits in musicals... provided they have a reason for existing or the musical is good. And those in Dreamgirls I think are quite good. Though I'll admit that some of the sung through business in Evita bugs me.
Love the minimal poster for TTSP you chose, it's rather fantastic.
Sasha Stone's article about The Descendants, standing within spitting distance of Clooney and Telluride in general is ah-mazing. So beautifully written and fully realized.
I will love Anika Noni Rose (and Tonya Pickins and Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori) forever for her part in making Caroline, Or Change. I don't think I've ever had just a sobfest in a public place like I did when watching that show, and the best part is that not for one second did I feel manipulated or as if the show pandered for it's effect. It was the sheer honesty of it that was overwhelming. I still think about Lot's Wife, and that last song of the show that Anika sang still lingers too: "I'm the daughter of a maid" UGH. Sob. Thank God for youtube. I hope that show gets it's due sometime. It deserves so much more attention than what it's gotten.